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| {{Dablink|This page provides detail on initiation of purification from Niddah status as described by ]. For primary detail on Niddah, see ] page}} | {{Dablink|This page provides detail on initiation of purification from Niddah status as described by ]. For primary detail on Niddah, see ] page}} | ||
| In ] and Rabbinic law, a '''Hefsek Taharah''' ("Pause" to initiate "purity") is a method used |
In ] and Rabbinic law, a '''Hefsek Taharah''' ("Pause" to initiate "purity") is a method used in the ] community for a woman -who is in a ] state- to determine that ] has ceased. | ||
| The performance of a Hefsek Taharah is performed to initiate the counting of seven days absent of blood discharge. | |||
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| When not during their seven "clean" days, all women are advised to wear colored undergarments. | When not during their seven "clean" days, all women are advised to wear colored undergarments. | ||
| ⚫ | ===Newlyweds=== | ||
| ⚫ | According to Orthodox authorities, the first time a virgin has sexual relations, she also becomes Niddah as a result of her hymenal blood flow. This is observed even if in fact there was no blood present. However, a bride counts only four days before performing a hefsek tahara, instead of the usual five.{{Attribution needed|date=May 2010}} Some Conservative authorities rule that a woman is not a niddah in such a case unless uterine bleeding is observed.<ref name="rabbinicalassembly.org">http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/teshuvot/docs/20052010/berkowitz_niddah.pdf</ref> | ||
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| Such cloths are about two by four inches, and are available at local Judaica stores, the local ], stores in Orthodox neighborhoods in Israel, or may be cut from clean all-white soft cotton or linen fabric.<ref>] ''Kedushah'' Laws of forbidden relations 4:15</ref> | Such cloths are about two by four inches, and are available at local Judaica stores, the local ], stores in Orthodox neighborhoods in Israel, or may be cut from clean all-white soft cotton or linen fabric.<ref>] ''Kedushah'' Laws of forbidden relations 4:15</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | ===Newlyweds=== | ||
| ⚫ | According to Orthodox authorities, the first time a virgin has sexual relations, she also becomes Niddah as a result of her hymenal blood flow. This is observed even if in fact there was no blood present. However, a bride counts only four days before performing a hefsek tahara, instead of the usual five.{{Attribution needed|date=May 2010}} Some Conservative authorities rule that a woman is not a niddah in such a case unless uterine bleeding is observed.<ref name="rabbinicalassembly.org">http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/teshuvot/docs/20052010/berkowitz_niddah.pdf</ref> | ||
| == References == | == References == | ||
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In Torah and Rabbinic law, a Hefsek Taharah ("Pause" to initiate "purity") is a method used in the Orthodox Jewish community for a woman -who is in a Niddah state- to determine that Menstruation has ceased.
The performance of a Hefsek Taharah is performed to initiate the counting of seven days absent of blood discharge.
Methodology
In the Orthodox Jewish community, women may test whether menstruation has ceased; this ritual is known as the Hefsek tahara. The woman takes a bath or shower near sunset, wraps a clean white cloth ("Bedikah cloth") around her finger, and swipes the inner vaginal circumference. If the cloth shows only discharges that are white, yellow, or clear, then menstruation is considered to have ceased. If discharge is bright red, it indicates that menstruation is still in effect. If it is any other color, it is subject to further inquiry, often involving consultation with a Rabbi.
The ritual requires that the cloth used to perform this test is first checked carefully to ensure that it is clean of any marks, colored threads, or specks; the cloth itself can be any clean white cloth, although there are small cloths designed for this ritual, known as bedikah (meaning checking).
In the Orthodox Jewish community, further rituals are practices toward assurance regarding the cessation of the menstrual flow. After the hefsek tahara, some women insert a cloth (or, in modern times, a tampon), consequently known as a moch dachuk, for between 18 minutes and an hour, to ensure that there is no uterine blood; this must be done carefully, as it could otherwise irritate the mucous membrane, causing bleeding unrelated to menstruation. If there is any fear of irritation causing bleeding, a Rabbi may waive this practice.
Some women also repeat the "Bedikah" each morning and evening of the seven days subsequent to the end of menstruation. Another tradition is the wearing of white underwear and use of white bedding during this period; conversely, the rest of the time, when not counting the "seven clean days", some women who suffer from spotting deliberately use coloured underwear and coloured toilet paper, since it is only when blood is seen on white material that it has "Tumah" status in Jewish law.
When not during their seven "clean" days, all women are advised to wear colored undergarments.
The cloth
The bedikah cloth or "checking cloth," called an id or an "eid" in Hebrew, is a clean piece of white cloth used in the process of purifying a niddah. It is used by observant Jewish women to determine whether they have finished menstruation. The cloth is inserted into the vagina, and if no blood is found, the woman may start counting the seven blood-free days. On each of these days, she performs this examination in the morning and in the later afternoon before sunset. If no blood is found, she may go to the mikveh on the eighth evening after nightfall, and then engage in relations with her husband.
This practice is also occasionally used by Jewish men to check if he has gotten blood on himself from his wife after relations to determine whether she menstruates during relations.
Such cloths are about two by four inches, and are available at local Judaica stores, the local mikvah, stores in Orthodox neighborhoods in Israel, or may be cut from clean all-white soft cotton or linen fabric.
Newlyweds
According to Orthodox authorities, the first time a virgin has sexual relations, she also becomes Niddah as a result of her hymenal blood flow. This is observed even if in fact there was no blood present. However, a bride counts only four days before performing a hefsek tahara, instead of the usual five. Some Conservative authorities rule that a woman is not a niddah in such a case unless uterine bleeding is observed.
References
- Mishneh Torah Kedushah Laws of forbidden relations 4:6
- Mishneh Torah Kedushah Laws of forbidden relations 4:14
- Mishneh Torah Kedushah Laws of forbidden relations 4:15
- http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/teshuvot/docs/20052010/berkowitz_niddah.pdf